CC Minutes - 07/08/98 Work Session

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through the federally imposed matrix system and the number of persons failing to appear for court proceedings by a specific amount. He also suggested that use of the term "capacity" could confuse voters. Ms. Swanson Gribskov pointed out that intensive PSCC deliberations which had led to the proposed levy had taken place over a lengthy period of time and that all programs included were considered to be important. She said prioritizing of the programs had been based on affordability, the "context" of the times, and other revenue ballot measures under consideration. She said the entire criminal justice system had been considered and that weighing issues such as capacity versus prevention, adult versus youth had been thoroughly deliberated. She explained that the current levy options had been prepared to provide a basis for further discussion. Ms. Nathanson stated that she would support any levy proposal which included prevention, system efficiency, and capacity programs, and that she did not favor separating programs into independent measures. She said that she believed school truancy was a significant issue and programs were needed providing for early intervention. She asked if such concerns were addressed in the levy proposal. Mr. Johnson replied that programs addressing concerns about truancy were not likely to be included in the PSCC levy proposal, but that area school districts were actively developing new programs to address the issue. Mr. Meisner stated that he believed a public safety levy should include programs addressing the needs of the entire criminal justice system and that flexibility in developing programs should be maintained. He said he did not believe the need for the AIRS conversion could be fully appreciated by the public, but that it needed to be funded. He said he favored coordination of funding for local programs with available federal and State resources. He said he was concerned that all aspects of system capacity were being considered, such as whether increasing capacity to a limited degree might act as a prevention measure. Mr. Farr expressed appreciation for the work of the PSCC. He suggested that capacity programs did not provide long-term solutions to criminal justice issues. He said he believed the levy proposal should include programs for youth who are most at risk such as "Services for Homeless Youth" and "Juvenile Aftercare." He said he also believed the AIRS conversion should be included in the levy. Mr. Tollenaar stated that he believed the AIRS conversion was extremely important and that a "window of opportunity" had been missed when it was decided to not propose the public safety levy in the September 1998 election. He said he was pleased the council appeared to favor a "balanced" approach to the levy, but that it was difficult to differentiate between whether specific programs provided benefits of prevention or increased capacity. He asked if it was accurate that he had heard that the proposed Court School program could include provisions for truant youth, not just those involved in the criminal justice system. Mr. Johnson replied that early discussions of the program had suggested that it was possible to do so, but that more recent investigation of an example of such a program had emphasized that those who were adjudicated in the criminal justice system should not be mixed with those who were not. Acting Chief of Police Jim Hill said that he was concerned that whatever programs were included in the levy could be enthusiastically supported by police officers who dealt daily with problems they sought to address. He said he supported integrating capacity, system efficiencies, and prevention programs in the levy because one without the others would not be effective. He said he believed the AIRS conversion could be made "marketable" to voters by emphasizing how it MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 8, 1998 Page 4